Scripps Overseer Resigns Position

Nursing Home Magnate Cites Disagreements With Chairman

Health care magnate Elizabeth Fago resigned from the Scripps Florida Funding Corp. on Friday, ending a 13-month stint on the state oversight panel that was dogged by controversy.

In confirming her resignation, Fago, 53, the wealthy owner of a chain of nursing homes, said that she wanted to devote more time to both business and raising money for Scripps Florida, the biomedical research center being established in Palm Beach County with $800 million in state and county funds.

But Fago also confirmed that she and Funding Corp. chairman Marshall Criser Jr. had repeatedly clashed over what Criser viewed as a conflict between her role as an overseer of the project and a major donor.

"It's not been comfortable for her or for me or the board," said Criser.

Criser and Fago were named to the board by Gov. Jeb Bush, who personally persuaded the San Diego-based Scripps Research Institute to expand its operation to Florida.

Concern over Fago's role on the board, and her position as chair of the audit committee, first surfaced last May when she donated $1 million to Scripps.

When Criser raised an objection to her dual activities, she resigned from the audit committee but remained on the nine-member Funding Corp.

"I'm just way too busy. I don't have the time anymore," said Fago, who added that she also resigned Friday from the tax-supported Palm Beach County Health Care District.

Fago also became too close with the protracted site selection process, McCarty said, and was an advocate for moving Scripps off the chosen Mecca Farms grove west of Palm Beach Gardens. Despite several lawsuits to stop construction on the 1,919-acre grove, the county last week reaffirmed its selection of Mecca Farms and on Thursday began excavation on the property.

Fago, a Palm Beach Gardens resident and a prominent Republican donor, was the only woman and only Palm Beach County resident on the Funding Corp.

Philanthropist and inventor Alex Dreyfoos, said he was surprised to hear of Fago's resignation, and described Fago as someone who "worked very hard to try to help Scripps get situated."

Dreyfoos also donated $1 million to the research giant said he saw no conflict between being a donor and one who oversees the state's spending on Scripps.

"It's money coming into Scripps," Dreyfoos said. "I would think the governor and Marshall Criser would hope Scripps would be successful at fund raising."

Mike Clary can be reached at mwclary@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6629.

CHRONOLOGY

Dec. 2, 2002: Gov. Jeb Bush names Fago to a four-year term on the board of the tax-supported Palm Beach County Health Care District.